Tag Archives: Hike

Pin Mill, Woolverstone and Chelmondiston Circular Walk

I parked near Woolverstone Chandler after calling ahead and asking permission (01473 780206). The public foot path runs in front of the Royal Harwich Yacht club then follows the river bank to Pin Mill.

After a swift pint in the Butt & Oyster the path continues along the bank through National Trust’s Pin Mill woodland. This takes you about 100 feet above sea level and gently undulates as you make your way toward Foxes Bottom. Continue parallel with Long Reach past Colton Creek and then right toward Orwell cottages and Wade’s Lane.

Wade’s Lane is a small road and has high banks in parts which means any traffic will have to wait for you to walk to a point where they can pass. Followed by a Ford Fiesta for 3 or 4 minutes before a safe place to pass was found.

At Shotley common rejoin a footpath through Colton Cottage’s driveway. This is private land and an old footpath, which presumably went right through their garden, has now been ‘officially extinguished’ and a more convenient path which passes over a meadow can now be used.

Eventually this takes you to the B1456, a larger and busy road, which you must follow for 400 metres. Max speed signs show this as 40 MPH but beware few vehicles take any notice and there are points where you have no option but to stay in the road.

Soon you return to a bridleway which splits Dawns Covert and Alder Carr. When you are through the wood you have a good view of the river. The route card from here takes you through Chelmondiston along Church Lane, across Page’s common and through Woolverstone Park. I confess that I fancied lunch at the Butt & Oyster so cut through the Cliff Plantation and rejoined the river bank path.

maps Custom Pin Mill, Woolverstone and Chelmondiston Circular Walk

Map of the Pin Mill walk

Distance: 7½ Miles
Elevation Range: 3 to 100 feet
Weather Check: Woolverstone, Suffolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Pin Mill, Woolverstone and Chelmondiston Circular Walk Route Card
Download: Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pin_Mill
Local Website: The Butt & Oyster

Pin Mill on Twitter

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Two Circular Walks Around Rutland Water & Upper Hambleton

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I didn’t know there is a county called Rutland. Forced to watch Rutland Weekend Television by an older brother, I thought it was an imaginary place dreamt-up by Eric Idle in one of his moments of madness.

What a pleasant surprise to discover that this small county is host to one of the most beautiful areas in the East of England. Great care has been taken to make the walking easy, much of it tarmacked and the rest well trodden and cared for paths.

On the first day I walked the 16 mile outer bank. Walking anti-clockwise just past the Macmillan Way Dam a crowd watched a kids fun day run raising cash for Sports-Relief. I stopped for lunch at the Harbour Café at Whitwell which had welcome air-conditioning as it was surprisingly hot.

SDC14522 300x225 Two Circular Walks Around Rutland Water & Upper Hambleton

Camping on Rutland Water
looking WNW from the camp site

The day ended as it begin with a warm thick blanket cover of mist creating a spectacular sunset. Gently rolling fog let only the tops of trees through in huddles like islands revealing and shrouding themselves as the mist passed by.

I camped at Lakeland Estates on the south shore of Rutland Water for £6 per night.

112 acres of land also used by Virgin Balloons to launch flights when conditions are right.

Speak to Richard on 07850 131666 and try book area 9 as this has beautiful views 110 metres above the water. Post code for the site is LE15 8RN.

On the second day my walking partner and I took the shorter route around the Hambleton Peninsular. We stopped at Finches Arms for lunch which gets very busy so book in advance if you plan you walk on a weekend or during holiday breaks.

Important Route Change

SNAG 0002 300x176 Two Circular Walks Around Rutland Water & Upper Hambleton

Important change to the inner route

On the satellite map a walk through the Anglian Water nature reserve had potential, and for £2.70 I thought it might be a worthwhile cut through to the Hambleton peninsula. Unfortunately there is no route through so instead we walked through Egleton and along the road to join the main road to Upper Hambleton. Both roads have paths for walkers and cyclists so are not difficult to walk.

Distance: 16 + 9 Miles
Elevation Range: 269 to 406 feet + 273 to 364 feet
Weather Check: Oakham, Rutland
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Two Circular Walks Around Rutland Water & Upper Hambleton Route Cards
Download: Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutland_water
Local Website: http://www.rutlandwater.org.uk/
Twitter: Rutlandbirds
Facebook Page: Rutland-Water-Nature-Reserve

Twitter posts on Rutland Water

Ickworth and a circular walk from Culford Through The Kings Forest

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If you are a keen bird watcher and live nearby then you already know the delight of the West Stow Lakes. The cacophony between Dixon’s Covert and Alder Carr drowns out the sound of the Saturday traffic.

How many species I couldn’t tell but certainly more than I have heard in one place as I can remember. Two pairs of Egyptian Geese added colour to the lakes and a Sparrow Hawk in Ickworth Gardens provided a little majesty. Canada Geese fighting and chasing each other around Alder Carr like a Benny Hill show.

The forest isn’t really a forest, it’s a large plantation with all the tree’s it neat rows reminding us the hand of god has a long way to go before he can match that of man. My distaste for artificial woods was momentarily forgotten when surrounded by a large herd of Deer, possibly more than a hundred. They crossed a clearing and were gone as quickly as they arrived.

SDC14255 1 300x227 Ickworth and a circular walk from Culford Through The Kings Forest

The Resplendent Rotunda, Ickworth

But the visit to Ickworth House and its splendid gardens made the day so worthwhile. It is truly amazing and surely a masterpiece amongst National Jewels.

The new Basement now open to the Public not only shows what it must have been like to live as the “downstairs” half of Upstairs Downstairs but they put on a show too.

People, or ghosts if you prefer, live the lives of their 1910 to 1930 contemporaries. They ignore you! Or rather they carry on as if you are not there. It is a definite must-see activity when you visit Suffolk.

Following is a map of the walk, for Ickworth house click here.

The second half of the video has some clips of the new Ickworth Basement show. Staff dressed up in contemporary uniform perform duties that would have been undertaken at the time.

http://youtu.be/cvq5_23zAgI

Distance: 14 Miles
Elevation Range: 45 to 180 feet
Weather Check: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Map: Click here and once loaded select “Leisure” map
Route Card: Ickworth and a circular walk from Culford Through The Kings Forest
Download: Walkers Route Card Template for Word 2010
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ickworth_House
Local Website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ickworth/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Ickworth